Written Answers Tuesday 4 March 2008

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that young people and potential athletes in Kilmarnock and Loudoun have the opportunity to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Stewart Maxwell: The Governments’ National Strategy for Sport, Reaching Higher clearly identifies the importance of the creation of Pathways to enable young people to fulfil their potential in sport. Sportscotland the national agency for sport lead on this area working in partnership with key stakeholders such as the governing bodies of sport and local authorities.

  Individual governing bodies of sport have the responsibility to identify and develop their talented athletes. However, additional support is available through the Institute network, which in this case would be the West of Scotland Area Institute of Sport, where aspiring athletes can be further developed through additional tailored support programmes.

  The government has set out clear aspirations for the performance of the Scottish Team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and will be working closely with key stakeholders to ensure they are achieved.

Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with sector skills councils on its plans to increase the number of modern apprenticeships.

Maureen Watt: Since last summer Scottish ministers have met with the majority of Sector Skills Council Chief Executives to discuss skills issues, including modern apprenticeships (MA), in Scotland.

  Scottish Government officials are also in frequent and close contact with Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). My officials recently held two days of "surgeries" with representatives from SSCs, at which the development of the MA programme was a key feature.

Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what engagement it has had with the food and drink sector skills council, Improve, on proposals to create modern apprenticeships at SVQ Level 2.

Maureen Watt: Scottish Government officials recently held two days of "surgeries" with representatives from Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), and the development of the modern apprenticeship (MA) programme, including the introduction of a Level 2 MAs in Scotland were covered by discussions. Representatives from Improve Ltd met with officials at this time and their proposals to create MAs at SVQ level 2 were discussed in detail.

Carers

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will meet the specific needs of ethnic minority carers.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the invaluable contribution which all unpaid carers make to Scottish society and the importance of supporting them in their caring role, including addressing the specific needs of ethnic minority carers.

  That support can include carer training, which is valuable in helping carers to cope with their caring role and to protect their health. Last June, I announced funding to develop carer training pilots. This will support a project delivering carer training to black and minority ethnic carers. This project recognises that minority ethnic carers can have specific training needs which may require a more focused approach than can be currently delivered within mainstream provision. It aims to develop and test a range of training opportunities to address the specific needs of minority ethnic carers, so that they can be used in other areas.

  In addition, there are specific requirements on NHS boards to address the needs of ethnic minority carers within their NHS Carer Information Strategies. I recently announced funding of £9 million over the next three years to implement these strategies, which are the primary mechanism for each NHS board to identify and support carers. Boards must involve ethnic minority carers in the development and review of their strategies; include strategic proposals to meet the identification and information needs of ethnic minority carers, and monitor their effectiveness.

  I will be looking carefully at NHS boards’ annual reports on implementation of their Carer Information Strategies to ensure that all requirements are met, including those relating to minority ethnic carers.

Children and Young People

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Not Seen. Not Heard. Not Guilty: The Rights and Status of the Children of Prisoners in Scotland by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland, how it plans to ensure that children’s rights are taken into account when decisions are made about releasing or tagging a parent.

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Not Seen. Not Heard. Not Guilty: The Rights and Status of the Children of Prisoners in Scotland by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland, how it plans to ensure that children’s views, interests and concerns are better taken into account when decisions are made about releasing or tagging a parent.

Kenny MacAskill: Reports prepared by the relevant local authorities include information on family circumstances. This forms part of the material that informs decisions about all types of release. It is taken into account when setting licence conditions attached to release licences, including electronic monitoring.

Dentistry

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new initiatives it will introduce in 2008-09 to offer increased access to NHS dental services in Orkney and what financial resources will be allocated to each initiative.

Shona Robison: There are no current plans to introduce new initiatives in 2008-09 to increase access to NHS dental services specifically in Orkney.

  NHS Orkney are planning to increase their dental premises but this will take some time to put in place as this is being taken forward as part of the board’s property strategy.

  The board is also considering whether dental surgeries should be included as part of the refurbishment of the Balfour hospital at the first phase of this project. This proposal is currently with the Scottish Government Health Directorates for approval.

Education

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students presented in ceramics at standard, higher and advanced higher grades in each year from 1999 to 2007.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) does not provide courses in ceramics at Standard Grade, Higher or Advanced Higher level although candidates have the option of studying ceramics within Art and Design courses at all levels.

  The total number of exam presentations in Art and Design at standard grade and intermediate level increased from 20,000 to nearly 25,000 between 1999 and 2007. Presentations at Higher Art and Design fell slightly from 7,200 to 6,800 over the same period.

  Total entry figures for Art and Design courses from 1999 to 2007 are as follow:

  

Art and DesignLevel
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Standard Grade
 20,039
 20,539
 20,899
 21,267
 21,776
 20,503
 19,395
 18,456
 17,174


 Intermediate 1
 
 82
 281
 351
 518
 836
 1,221
 1,638
 2,263


 Intermediate 2
 
 586
 1,733
 1,967
 2,480
 3,348
 3,823
 4,370
 5,335


 Higher
 7,210
 7,255
 6,690
 7,106
 6,765
 6,844
 6,571
 6,551
 6,845


 Advanced Higher
 
 
 313
 1,069
 1,266
 1,374
 1,366
 1,404
 1,352


 Total
 27,249
 28,462
 29,916
 31,760
 32,805
 32,905
 32,376
 32,419
 32,969



  The SQA also offers a number of stand alone ceramics units such as "Ceramics: Introduction to Hand-Building" and "Ceramics: Introduction to the Wheel". Presentations for these units are mainly at Intermediate level and varied between around 400 and 700 individual entries during the years 2001 to 2007.

Education

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are learning English as a second language in schools.

Maureen Watt: The numbers of children recorded as having English as an additional language is published in Pupils in Scotland 2007 , available on the government website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/02/25145216/75.

Environment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to ensure that any barriers to the development of anaerobic digestion projects are identified so that plans can be made to overcome them.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is keen to encourage the development of anaerobic digestion projects in Scotland. Any barriers would vary depending in particular on the size and location of the plant and the nature of the feedstock. However, anaerobic digestion is one of the processes on which the Scottish Government has engaged the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to provide advice on potential obstacles and how these may be overcome.

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many domestic properties have been investigated for possible contamination under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Part IIA, broken down by local authority area.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many domestic properties have been found to be contaminated following investigation under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Part IIA, broken down by local authority area.

Richard Lochhead: This information is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government. Under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a statutory duty to inspect their areas to identify land that is contaminated land as defined in the legislation and to secure its remediation. Information on individual site investigations should be available from local authorities.

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is available to householders whose properties have been investigated under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Part IIA.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not provide financial support direct to householders in respect of contaminated land remediation or related works to their properties. Under the provisions of the legislation, local authorities have powers to carry out remediation work themselves and waive cost recovery where owners cannot pay for remediation for reasons of hardship.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether fishermen in Scotland and elsewhere would be allowed to have in membership vessels that were licensed by more than one fisheries department under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The implications for vessel licensing under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in the consultation.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the read across to the operation of western waters and deep sea species effort restrictions would be under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland and whether separate limits and arrangements currently apply to the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish fleets.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  Under current arrangements, western waters and deep sea species effort restrictions operate at a UK level.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on proposals to establish a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would be possible to continue to transfer or aggregate licences between English and Scottish vessels under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether under a separate fish quota management system, Scotland or the rest of the United Kingdom would be able to allow the unlimited aggregation of whitefish licences onto additional pelagic vessels or licences for under 10-metre vessels to be aggregated onto over 10-metre vessels without reference to other fisheries departments.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs could discontinue licensing for English vessels or convert all category B and C licences to category A without the agreement of Scotland.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, licences issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to English vessels would enable those vessels to fish in Scottish waters, subject to the same restrictions as those applying to Scottish vessels, or whether separate licences would require to be issued by the Scottish Government.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if separate licences were required to be issued by it to enable English vessels to fish in Scottish waters under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, it would be able to restrict the issue of such licences to English vessels that had a track record of fishing in Scottish waters and whether other fisheries departments could apply the same arrangements to Scottish vessels.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, what the implications would be for the operation of stock recovery measures for cod, hake, sole and plaice and whether these would change if the European Union moves from a gear-based days-at-sea regime to a kilowatts regime.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The implications for stock recovery measures under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in due course.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if there is to be complete separation with no provision for the free movement of licences within the United Kingdom under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, the holders of licences, licence entitlements and dummy licences will be given a once-only opportunity to transfer their licences, entitlements and assigned FQA units from the jurisdiction of one fisheries department in the UK to another.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The implications for vessel licensing and related matters such as the transfer of licences, entitlements and associated FQA units under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in the consultation.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, the quota allocations for Scotland and the remainder of the United Kingdom would be based on FQA units assigned to the fishing licences and entitlements currently issued by the four fisheries departments.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The implications for quota allocations and the basis on which they would be made under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in the consultation.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, a further round of reconciliation would be permitted to take account of the various quota transactions that have been agreed but not reflected in adjustments to the FQA units assigned to licences.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The implications for quota transactions which have already been agreed but not reflected in adjustments to FQA units under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in the consultation.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, the territorial quota allocations for the under 10-metre fleet would be based on the collective track records of the 1994 underpinning arrangements.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The issue of allocation of quota between the Scottish 10 metre and under fleet and the rest of the UK will be addressed in the consultation.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the repercussions for economic links would be under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  Economic link arrangements currently operate at a UK level. The implications for these arrangements under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in the consultation.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome would be under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland if Scotland were to overfish its quota and the rest of the United Kingdom to underfish or be prevented from fishing so that the United Kingdom collectively remained within quota and whether a system of penalties and compensation would operate at a territorial level.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  Arrangements to address overfishing of UK quotas are currently undertaken at a UK level. The implications for these arrangements under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in the consultation and, in due course, reflected in Scottish quota management rules which will be drawn up in consultation with Scottish stakeholders.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, there would be an opportunity in the run-up to separation for vessels registered and licensed in Scotland to re-register and re-license in another part of the United Kingdom and to take their FQA units with them.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The implications for vessel licensing and registration under a Scottish quota management and licensing system will be addressed in the consultation.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, how the interface with the European Union would be handled in terms of quota swaps with other member states, end year flexibility and deductions for overfishing and responding to infractions.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes to give effect to the devolution of quota management and licensing in Scotland. We will consult stakeholders in April, setting out detailed proposals and options to improve quota management and licensing. Any changes to the current arrangements will be made following full consultation, and will be announced later in the year.

  The issue of how a Scottish quota management and licensing system will interface with the EU in terms of quota swaps, end-year flexibility and overfishing will be addressed in the consultation.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure financial support for the continuation of the Scottish Photodynamic Therapy Centre at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

Nicola Sturgeon: Photodynamic therapy is available at the Dundee centre to Scottish patients on the basis of clinical need. It is the responsibility of the referring NHS board to fund the cost of treatment.

Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage all individuals registered with a GP to undergo annual mental health check-ups.

Shona Robison: Alongside the clear care incentive the GP contract already provides financial encouragement for Practitioners to undertake mental health assessments for those who have a particular physical long term condition and have symptoms of, or are at risk, of developing, mental ill health.

  Additional resources provided through the Scottish Enhanced Services Programme also helps support enhanced services to carers, with routine screening and monitoring of appropriate health and social care needs, including mental health.

  Those not seen by their GP in the previous three years and those over 75 not seen in the preceding year can request a check up which if appropriate can explore mental health issues.

  The new NHS dementia HEAT target effective from April this year has been specifically designed to promote and support early identification of dementia.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards a negotiated settlement on extended opening hours for general medical practices to be feasible or desirable.

Nicola Sturgeon: We believe that the current offer to GP practices, which will reward Scottish GPs for extending their opening hours, is both fair and reasonable.

  When NHS Employers presented the offer to the GP Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association, in December 2007, the GPC neither accepted not rejected the deal. Instead, the GPC opted to poll its membership on the offer. We hope that GPs in Scotland will accept the offer and look forward to receiving the results in early March.

Health

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8840 by Nicola Sturgeon on 31 January 2008, what provisions and contingencies have been set aside by the NHS for meeting claims of clinical negligence, including through NHS boards, special health boards and the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme, in each year since 1 April 2000.

Nicola Sturgeon: Details are as follows:

  

 
2000-01
£000
2001-02
£000
2002-03
£000
2003-04
£000
200405
£000
2005-06
£000
2006-07
£000


 Contingent Liabilities
 44,992
 61,186
 64,497
 65,229
 52,315
 68,715
 80,457


 Provisions
 52,120
 52,644
 59,842
 60,481
 81,689
 106,126
 127,735


 Total
 97,112
 113,830
 124,339
 125,710
 134,004
 174,841
 208,192

Health

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8840 by Nicola Sturgeon on 31 January 2008, how many claims for clinical negligence against the NHS have been (a) received, (b) noted as abandoned and (c) settled in each quarter since 1 April 2000, broken down into (i) obstetrics and gynaecology, (ii) surgery, (iii) accident and emergency and (iv) others.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8840 by Nicola Sturgeon on 31 January 2008, what guidance it has issued to NHS boards, special health boards or the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme in respect of the publication of aggregate data on claims for medical negligence made, settled and outstanding.

Nicola Sturgeon: No guidance has been issued to either health boards or special health boards on the publication of medical negligence data.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for rent it will build from 2008 to 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: On the basis of the reforms proposed in our discussion document, Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland , the Scottish Government expects that the increased budget for affordable housing of £1.5 billion in 2008-11 will deliver more new affordable homes – including social rented houses and houses for low cost home ownership – than planned for 2005-08. Responses to the discussion document are currently being analysed.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes have been built by housing associations in each local authority area since 1999.

Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is published on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildHA.

  The last three tables in the workbook show the latest available completions data for the period requested by quarter, financial year and calendar year.

Housing

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are waiting for improvement grants for their homes and how many disabled people are awaiting grants for modifications to their homes.

Stewart Maxwell: This information is not held centrally. Local authorities are not required to record this information and any data they do hold is unlikely to be comparable.

International Development

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it has provided through the International Development Fund in 2007-08 and to which organisations.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail expenditure from the International Development Fund in 2007-08 to date and identify projected expenditure to 31 March 2008.

Linda Fabiani: The total expenditure to date from the International Development Fund (2007-08) is £3,930,078.04. Identified projected expenditure is £569,641.00. A breakdown of expenditure and identified projected expenditure to date are as follows:

  2007-08 Expenditure to Date (Excluding Humanitarian Health Fund)

  

 Organisation
 Country
 Funding


 Waverley Care Trust – Support to Limowadi for HIV Prevention and Care
 Zambia
£19,646.00


 Queen Margaret University – Support for Health Management Capacity Building
 Malawi
£57,000.00


 ALSO - Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
 Malawi
£10,000.00


 SCIAF – Fair Trade Forum Core Funding
 N/A
£60,000.00


 Glasgow Caledonian University and Malawi Institute of Tourism – Infrastructure and Staff Development Programme
 Malawi
£111,200.00


 Enterprising Global Citizen Consortium – Embedding of "Enterprising Global Citizen" in Malawi
 Malawi
£18,000.00


 University of Glasgow – Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Training Programme
 Zambia and Ethiopia
£30,950.00


 Concern Worldwide – Community Therapeutic Care
 Malawi
£83,750.00


 Bell College – Transferring Technology Expertise to Primary Healthcare in Rural Malawi
 Malawi
£149,600.00


 SKIP Glasgow – Orphan Care and Rehabilitation
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 ALSO - Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
 Malawi
£120,000.00


 University of Edinburgh – Acute Respiratory Child Health Project
 Malawi
£120,000.00


 Scottish Crop Research Institute – Exploring Potato Farming Opportunities (Agriculture)
 Malawi
£30,597.00


 Westgate Health Centre – Twinning Between Malawian Clinics and Scottish General Practices
 Malawi
£31,000.00


 Bell College – Support Programme for Newly Qualified Practitioners
 Malawi
£8,000.00


 Stenhouse Primary School – Leadership Training for Senior School Staff
 Malawi
£15,920.00


 Bell College – Educational Development Project in Kamuzu College of Nursing and College of Health Sciences
 Malawi
£36,906.00


 Malawi Tomorrow - Perkins Brailler Rehabilitation Project
 Malawi
£35,295.00


 Glasgow City Council – Transportation of Goods to Malawi
 Malawi
£25,000.00


 Tearfund – Street Children in Malawi
 Malawi
£81,940.00


 Scottish International Relief – Mary’s Meals
 Malawi
£75,891.00


 World Exchange – Likhubula House Project
 Malawi
£35,000.00


 Scotland Malawi Partnership – Higher Education Project
 Malawi
£17,200.00


 Tearfund – Empowering Communities
 Malawi
£51,557.00


 Equal Exchange – Neno Macademia Nut Project
 Malawi
£13,987.38


 Sanday School – Promoting Equality between Sanday School, Orkney and Minga School
 Malawi
£1,362.00


 The Fair Trading Partnership – Fair Trade Bespoke Football Kit
 N/A
£714.40


 Balfron High School – Partnership with Robert Laws Secondary School
 Malawi
£19,000.00


 Scottish Education Development Centre – Understanding Developing (Learning About Malawi)
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 Rosehall High School – Healthy Lifestyle Project
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 Malawi Trade School Appeal
 Malawi
£11,450.00


 Books Abroad – Malawi Reading Matters Programme 2007
 Malawi
£14,400.00


 Vetaid – Working Together: UK and Tanzania
 Tanzania
£19,629.00


 University of Edinburgh – Improving the quality of Education in Rural Areas
 Malawi
£19,800.00


 Global Concerns Trust – Tools and training for education and livelihood in Malawi
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 University of Dundee - Developing Partnership Links between Dundee University Medical School & Healthcare Institutions in Malawi
 Malawi
£15,000.00


 VSO Scotland - Global Exchange Programme
 Malawi
£40,000.00


 Jubilee Scotland – Once The Spotlight Moves On
 N/A
£11,415.00


 NIDOS – Core Funding
 N/A
£85,000.00


 WWF Scotland – Scotland/South Africa Eco School Exchange
 South Africa
£5,792.00


 SCIAF – Educational Capacity Building Project
 Sudan
£35,000.00


 University of Edinburgh – Scotland/Africa Directory
 All Africa
£9,200.00


 University of St Andrews – Enhancing Health Care Capacity
 Malawi
£19,666.00


 SCIAF – Darfur Emergency Response Operation
 Sudan
£250,000.00


 ICTHES World Care – Saving Lives, Reducing Unnecessary Suffering and Raising the Standard of Health Care
 Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South East Asia
£47,875.00


 EMMS International – Improving the health care of communities around Mulanje
 Malawi
£47,743.00


 IDEAS – Core Funding
 N/A
£35,000.00


 Challenges Worldwide - Helping Today’s Sri Lanka; Developing Tomorrow’s Scotland
 Sri Lanka
£92,333.00


 Concern Worldwide – Community Therapeutic Care
 Malawi
£83,750.00


 Oxfam in Scotland – Developing Malawi’s Millennium Development Goals
 Malawi
£100,000.00


 Challenges Worldwide - Helping Today’s Sri Lanka; Developing Tomorrow’s Scotland
 Sri Lanka
£20,000.00


 Scotland Malawi Business Group – Enterprise Programme
 Malawi
£68,070.00


 University of Strathclyde – Chikwawa Project
 Malawi
£51,000.00


 International Network of Street Papers – The Big Issue
 Ethiopia and Namibia
£44,107.00


 Mr Allan Burns - International Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
 Ghana
£45,000.00


 SCIAF – HIV/AIDS Project
 Tanzania
£20,024.00


 Christian Blind Mission – Child Sight Project
 Malawi
£40,000.00


 ICTHES World Care - Saving Lives, Reducing Unnecessary Suffering and Raising the Standard of Health Care
 Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South East Asia
£53,250.00


 Glasgow City Council – Transportation of Goods to Malawi
 Malawi
£25,000.00


 SCIAF – Educational Capacity Building Project
 Sudan
£35,000.00


 University of Strathclyde – Making Wonders Project
 Malawi
£33,750.00


 Scotland Malawi Partnership – Higher Education project
 Malawi
£53,560.00


 Deaf Action – Sign Language Interpreter Training
 Malawi and Swaziland
£74,491.15


 Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara – Livelihood Development for Widowed Single Parents
 Sri Lanka
£27,500.00


 Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara – Orphanage Project
 Sri Lanka
£19,047.00


 Equal Exchange – Neno Macademia Nut Project
 Malawi
£71,666.00


 Adam Smith College - Malawi Vocational Sector Capacity Building
 Malawi
£60,000.00


 University of Edinburgh – Integrated Child Lung Health Project
 Malawi
£88,249.51


 University of Stirling – Aquaculture Project
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 SCVO – Malawi Support and Civil Society Project
 Malawi
£62,775.00


 Lothian Zambia HIV/AIDS Partnership – Support to Develop and Sustain Primary Care Facilities at Isubilo
 Zambia
£33,651.00


 Lothian Zambia HIV/AIDS Partnership – Partnership Coordinator Post (Core Capacity Building)
 Zambia
£59,600.00


 Lothian Zambia HIV/AIDS Partnership – Support – Support for Skills Exchange in Antiretroviral Therapy for AIDS in Zambia
 Zambia
£40,358.00


 University of Stirling – Aquaculture Project
 Malawi
£65,500.00


 Christian Aid – HIV Connections
 Malawi
£62,439


 Royal College of Nursing – Health Leadership Programme
 Malawi
£30,000


 Scotland Malawi Mental Health – Clinical Training
 Malawi
£30,000


 Anaesthesia Training Programme – Clinical Training
 Malawi
£30,000


 Pathology Programme – Clinical Training
 Malawi
£30,000


 Civic Computing – Malawi Website Development
 Malawi
£1,500


 Link Community Development – Malawi School Improvement Programme
 Malawi
£200,000


 Tearfund – Chisomo Children’s Fund
 Malawi
£50,000


 Oxfam in Scotland – Extension to developing Malawi’s Millennium Development Goals
 Malawi
£50,000


 
 Total
£3,878,106.44



  2007-08 Expenditure to Date – Humanitarian Health Fund

  

 Organisation
 Country
 Funding


 Professor Frank Carey, Consultant Pathologist, NHS Tayside
 Malawi
£5,000


 Mrs Alison Fawcett, NHS Greater Glasgow
 Malawi
£4,000


 Dr Catriona Connolly, Anaesthetist, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
 Malawi
£5,000


 Ms Christine J Fraser, Midwife, Greater Glasgow
 Liberia
£1,225.40


 Dr Harry Bennett, Ophthalmologist, Princes Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh
 Ethiopia
£5,000


 Anne Thomson, Acting Deputy Director, Royal College of Nursing
 Malawi
£5,000


 Dr Jim Bond, International Health Advisor, Edinburgh
 Mozambique
£1,150


 Rev.William Wilson, Zambezi Mission
 Malawi
£4,000


 Dr Johann Leuvennink, Consultant Pathologist, NHS Tayside
 Malawi
£4896.20


 Dr Leonie Boeing, Consultant Psychiatrist, NHS Lothian
 Malawi
£5,000


 Professor Barbara Parfitt, Director of Global Health and Development, Glasgow Caledonian University
 South Africa
£2,500


 William Whiteley, Dept of Clinical Neurosciences, Western General, Edinburgh
 Malawi
£5,000


 Prof Paul McGill, Consultant Rheumatologist, NHS Greater Glasgow
 Kenya
£4,200


 
 Total
£51,971.60



  2007-08 Identified Projected Expenditure For 2007-08 (Excluding Humanitarian Health Fund)

  

 Organisation
 Country
 Committed


 Scottish Fair Trade Forum – Core Funding
 N/A
£40,000.00


 University of Edinburgh – Higher Education Capacity Building
 Sub-Saharan Africa
£26,000.00


 University of Edinburgh – Building Capacity for Social Healing
 Sri Lanka
£23,300.00


 Child First – Kakushi Children’s Project
 Zambia
£33,508.00


 Mamie Martin Fund - Supporting Education of Girls in Northern Malawi
 Malawi
£42,924.00


 Dr Josephine Munthali - Child Support Project
 Malawi
£64,284.00


 Commonwealth Local Government Forum - Building Effective Local Governance and Democracy in Malawi
 Malawi
£55,000.00


 Imani Enterprises – Trade Connections
 Malawi
£56,000.00


 Queen Margaret University – Health Leadership Programme
 Malawi
£40,000.00


 Opportunity International – Microfinance Programme
 Malawi
£135,000.00


 National Library of Scotland – Redevelopment of National Library Malawi
 Malawi
£2,000.00


 Imani Enterprises –Business development
 Malawi
£6,000.00


 LTS International – Review of Scholarship in Sub-Saharan Africa
 Malawi
£17,625.00


 Strathclyde University – Funding for immediate flood relief efforts in Chikwawa
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health – Malawi Paediatric Project
 Malawi
£20,000


 
 Total
£566,641



  2007-08 Identified Projected Expenditure For 2007-08 Humanitarian Health Fund

  

 Organisation
 Country
 Committed


 Dr Nicholas Scott, Anaesthetist, Golden Jubilee Hospital, Clydebank
 Ghana
£3,000


 
 Total
£3,000

International Development

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will open applications for a further funding round for the International Development Fund.

Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8635 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Land Purchase

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discretionary powers it has to waive the clawback requirement that exists on the sale of government-owned land to community organisations involved in land buyouts.

Richard Lochhead: There is no statutory clawback requirement on the disposal of Scottish Ministers’ crofting estates to community organisations. The Scottish Public Finance Manual offers guidance on the considerations to be taken into account when ministers exercise their discretion to dispose of such land. Details may be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/spfm/disposalassetsannex.

NHS Expenditure

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of expenditure was on the treatment of (a) cancer, (b) coronary heart disease, (c) diabetes, (d) arthritis and (e) cerebrovascular disease in each year from 2003 to 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

NHS Waiting Times

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times are for the provision of hearing aids in (a) NHS Fife, (b) NHS Lothian, (c) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, (d) NHS Ayrshire and Arran and (e) NHS Highland.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. However, work is currently taking place with Information Services Division of National Services Scotland to gather and validate audiology waiting time information from health boards with a view to future publication of meaningful data.

National Health Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the capability of the IT infrastructure of the NHS and all NHS boards to deal effectively with the developing demands of the newest technologies.

Nicola Sturgeon: Assessment and continued review of the capability of the IT infrastructure of the NHS is part of the remit of the eHealth Architecture and Design Division, recently established within Scottish Government Health Directorates.

Nuclear Waste

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many separate incidents of nuclear contamination in Scotland have been reported to authorities in each year since 1988.

Richard Lochhead: This information is not held centrally.

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many oral questions the Minister for Public Health has answered since May 2007.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many oral questions the Minister for Communities and Sport has answered since May 2007.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many oral questions the Minister for Children and Early Years has answered since May 2007.

Bruce Crawford: All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s Official Report website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/index.htm.

Planning

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications were called in for consideration by ministers in 2007 and, of these, how many were (a) called in due to the local authority having a vested interest in the outcome, (b) subsequently approved and (c) subsequently rejected.

Stewart Stevenson: Nineteen planning applications were called by Scottish ministers during 2007. Of these, three had been notified to Scottish ministers because of local authority interest.

  Of the 19 applications called-in, planning permission was granted in two cases and refused in one case. One application was withdrawn, and one call-in direction was revoked. The remaining 14 cases are still under consideration.

Prison Service

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the Scottish Prison Service, job centres and the armed services anent the recruitment of ex-service personnel to the Scottish Prison Service.

Kenny MacAskill: Although the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) engages regularly with job centres regarding recruitment, there has been no discussion between the two parties relating specifically to the recruitment of ex-service personnel.

  The Scottish Prison Service has engaged with the armed services in the following ways:

  Advertised in "Mascot", the official magazine for the Army in Scotland in October 2006.

  Engaged with Careers Transition Partnership (CTP) in June 2007 and participated in uniformed service recruitment day; facilitating presentation on opportunities with the SPS to approx 70 services leavers.

  Advertised in "Civvy Street" (resettlement and careers guide for British armed forces) in November 2007.

  Commitment in principal to run an SPS awareness event in conjunction with CTP with plan to facilitate presentation and tour of establishment .

  Commitment to attend CTP recruitment fair in Perth June 2008.

Roads

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the current regulations for ensuring that road users are kept informed of the likely completion dates of road maintenance projects offer those users adequate levels of information.

Stewart Stevenson: When carrying out road maintenance projects, road authorities throughout Scotland are expected to conform to the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management – Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance.

  This Code of Practice, was prepared and published by The Institution of Highways and Transportation and has been supported, endorsed and recommended by, among others, The Scottish Government and COSLA as well as the Department for Transport and the other devolved administrations.

  It contains guidance on information and publicity of road works and advocates the use of information boards, which can include a likely completion date, on site both prior to and during road maintenance projects.

  The Scottish Government is not aware of instances where this guidance is not being adhered to and there are no plans at present to introduce legislation making it a requirement for maintenance companies to display more prominently information boards displaying an expected completion date of a road maintenance project.

Schools

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural school closure decisions have been reversed by ministers in each year since 1999 and who the responsible minister was in each case.

Maureen Watt: Ministers have no powers to reverse school closure decisions once such decisions have been taken. In certain limited circumstances, set out in statute, local authorities cannot implement a proposal to close a school, rural or urban, without the consent of the Scottish ministers. Since 1999, Scottish ministers have declined to give their consent to two rural school closure proposals in 2007 and to one in 2008. The decisions are, in law, attributed to the Scottish ministers collectively rather than to an individual minister.

Schools

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received from Fife Council a list of schools that need to be replaced, rebuilt or expanded and, if so, which schools have been identified.

Maureen Watt: There is no requirement for authorities to submit lists of this kind. Fife Council has the statutory responsibility for the provision and maintenance of school buildings in its area. Consequently, the identification and prioritisation of building projects is a matter for Fife Council, within the context of its school estate management planning process.

Schools

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers are employed by state-funded faith schools.

Maureen Watt: The latest information on the numbers of teachers employed in denominational schools is set out in the statistical bulletin Teachers in Scotland, 2006 which can be accessed by the following link www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/172747/0048226.pdf .

Social Inclusion

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to maximise social inclusion in regard to NHS wheelchair and seating services, particularly around the provision of lightweight wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs for use by (a) children and young people in school and at home and (b) all those that cannot travel long distances or pursue hobbies using standard wheelchairs.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to ensure that wheelchair services meet the specific needs of children and young people.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations in the review of NHS wheelchair and seating services in Scotland which apply to children and young people.

Shona Robison: These matters have been brought to the Scottish Government’s attention in Recommendation 3 of Moving Forward: Review of NHS Wheelchair and Seating Services in Scotland .

  I have established a project board and have appointed a project manager to drive forward the modernisation and re-design of wheelchair and seating services. The project team will produce an action plan by December 2008, for my approval, identifying the recommendations of the review that best meet the needs of users and carers. Wheelchair provision that meets the particular needs of children, young people and adults, will be considered as part of that process.

  Wheelchair service providers have been active in encouraging wheelchair manufacturers to develop lightweight models of wheelchairs at a reasonable cost to NHS Scotland. Those models are being used in wheelchair fleets throughout Scotland.

Sport

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support amateur rugby clubs.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support amateur rugby clubs in encouraging more young people to actively participate in sport.

Stewart Maxwell: All Scottish Government funding for sport is routed through sportscotland and amateur rugby clubs can apply for funding from the various programmes sportscotland operates.

Sport

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the funding available to amateur rugby clubs.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is making available to amateur rugby clubs to support greater participation in sport.

Stewart Maxwell: Sportscotland grant to the Scottish Rugby Union for 2007-08 was £752,500. This is a significant investment in the development of the amateur game in Scotland. Sportscotland’s investment is made on the basis of a development plan for the sport which is the responsibility of the Scottish Rugby Union. It is therefore for the sports governing body to prepare and present the case for any additional support for its member clubs.

Teachers

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers have undertaken professional development in each of the five cross-curricular areas of additional support needs, following the launch of the Framework for Professional Recognition for teachers in 2006.

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers have relevant professional recognition in each of the five identified areas of additional support needs outlined in the Framework for Professional Recognition.

Maureen Watt: The five areas of teaching expertise covering autism, dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment and visual and hearing impairment were added to the General Teaching Council’s Framework for Professional Recognition at the end of last year. Since then, 1 secondary teacher has applied for recognition, in the area of autism.

Tourism

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes to the staffing of the Kirkwall office of VisitOrkney will result from the reorganisation of VisitScotland.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes to the role of the Kirkwall office of VisitOrkney will result from the reorganisation of VisitScotland.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the organisational structure will be of the new VisitScotland region into which VisitOrkney will be absorbed under the reorganisation of VisitScotland.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing will be of the new VisitScotland region into which VisitOrkney will be absorbed under the reorganisation of VisitScotland, outlining where each of the staff will be based.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles of the local Offices will be in the new VisitScotland region into which VisitOrkney will be absorbed under the reorganisation of VisitScotland, outlining the work carried out in each local office.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you on this matter.

Training

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in Ayrshire participated in occupational training programmes funded by Scottish Enterprise in each of the last five years.

Maureen Watt: The information requested covering individuals who participated in occupational training programmes broken down by geographical area and by year is a matter for the current delivery body. As such this information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

  From April Skills Development Scotland will assume operational responsibility for all our national training programmes.

Training

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency participated in occupational training programmes funded by Scottish Enterprise in each of the last five years.

Maureen Watt: The information requested covering individuals who participated in occupational training programmes broken down by geographical area and by year is a matter for the current delivery body. As such this information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

  From April Skills Development Scotland will assume operational responsibility for all our national training programmes.

Training

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in Ayrshire it expects to participate in occupational training programmes funded by Scottish Enterprise in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Maureen Watt: From April this year operational responsibility, including all local level contracting arrangements, for the delivery of national training programmes, will transfer to Skills Development Scotland. It will therefore be for Skills Development Scotland to make all future decisions relating to programme delivery across Scotland.

Training

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency it expects to participate in occupational training programmes funded by Scottish Enterprise in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Maureen Watt: From April this year operational responsibility, including all local level contracting arrangements, for the delivery of national training programmes, will transfer to Skills Development Scotland. It will therefore be for Skills Development Scotland to make all future decisions relating to programme delivery across Scotland.

Waste Management

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between pollution from PM2.5 particles and higher than average infant mortality rates and how any such correlation will be considered by ministers in permitting or monitoring energy from waste facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Scientific studies conducted worldwide have found varying levels of association between inhalation of small airborne particles and a range of acute and chronic diseases. In some cases, the airborne particles have been shown to increase the incidence of disease occurrence, and in others to exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing diseases. There is no convincing evidence of an association between levels of exposure to airborne PM2.5 particles in the environment and a higher than average rate of infant mortality.

  Energy from waste plants are now required to obtain a permit from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency which complies with the Waste Incineration Regulations (Scotland) 2003, unless they are covered by a specific exemption. The regulations impose stringent emission standards and controls which are designed to prevent negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health, including controls on particulate emissions.

Waste Management

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between pollution from PM2.5 particles and higher than average rates of birth defects and how any such correlation will be considered by ministers in permitting or monitoring energy from waste facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Scientific studies conducted worldwide have found varying levels of association between inhalation of small airborne particles and a range of acute and chronic diseases. In some cases, the airborne particles have been shown to increase the incidence of disease occurrence, and in others to exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing diseases. There is no convincing evidence of an association between levels of exposure to airborne PM2.5 particles in the environment and a higher than average rate of birth defects.

  Energy from waste plants are now required to obtain a permit from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency which complies with the Waste Incineration Regulations (Scotland) 2003, unless they are covered by a specific exemption. The regulations impose stringent emission standards and controls which are designed to prevent negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health, including controls on particulate emissions.

Waste Management

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between pollution from PM2.5 particles and higher than average incidence of cancer and how any such correlation will be considered by ministers in permitting or monitoring energy from waste facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Scientific studies conducted worldwide have found varying levels of association between inhalation of small airborne particles and a range of acute and chronic diseases. In some cases, the airborne particles have been shown to increase the incidence of disease occurrence, and in others to exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing diseases. There is convincing evidence that exposure to high concentrations of some types of PM2.5 particulate materials, for example cigarette smoke, can increase the risk of lung cancer.

  Energy from waste plants are now required to obtain a permit from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency which complies with the Waste Incineration Regulations (Scotland) 2003, unless they are covered by a specific exemption. The regulations impose stringent emission standards and controls which are designed to prevent negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health, including controls on particulate emissions.

Waste Management

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between pollution from PM2.5 particles and higher than average incidence of cardiovascular diseases and how any such correlation will be considered by ministers in permitting or monitoring energy from waste facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Scientific studies conducted worldwide have found varying levels of association between inhalation of small airborne particles and a range of acute and chronic diseases. In some cases, the airborne particles have been shown to increase the incidence of disease occurrence, and in others to exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing diseases. There is convincing evidence of an association between levels of exposure to airborne PM2.5 particles and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

  Energy from waste plants are now required to obtain a permit from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency which complies with the Waste Incineration Regulations (Scotland) 2003, unless they are covered by a specific exemption. The Regulations impose stringent emission standards and controls which are designed to prevent negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health, including controls on particulate emissions.

Waste Management

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between pollution from PM2.5 particles and higher than average incidence of respiratory problems and how any such correlation will be considered by ministers in permitting or monitoring energy from waste facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Scientific studies conducted worldwide have found varying levels of association between inhalation of small airborne particles and a range of acute and chronic diseases. In some cases, the airborne particles have been shown to increase the incidence of disease occurrence, and in others to exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing diseases. There is convincing evidence that exposure to high concentrations of some types of PM2.5 particulate materials, for example cigarette smoke and diesel exhaust, can increase the risk and severity of both acute and chronic respiratory conditions, and studies also indicate that acutely high PM2.5 concentrations can exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma.

  Energy from waste plants are now required to obtain a permit from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency which complies with the Waste Incineration Regulations (Scotland) 2003, unless they are covered by a specific exemption. The Regulations impose stringent emission standards and controls which are designed to prevent negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health, including controls on particulate emissions.

Waste Management

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between pollution from PM2.5 particles and higher than average incidence of diabetes and how any such correlation will be considered by ministers in permitting or monitoring energy from waste facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Scientific studies conducted worldwide have found varying levels of association between inhalation of small airborne particles and a range of acute and chronic diseases. In some cases, the airborne particles have been shown to increase the incidence of disease occurrence, and in others to exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing diseases. There is no convincing evidence of a correlation between exposure to airborne PM2.5 particles and higher than average incidence of diabetes. However, some evidence exists that acutely high PM2.5 concentrations can exacerbate the vascular effects of pre-existing diabetes.

  Energy from waste plants are now required to obtain a permit from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency which complies with the Waste Incineration Regulations (Scotland) 2003, unless they are covered by a specific exemption. The Regulations impose stringent emission standards and controls which are designed to prevent negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health, including controls on particulate emissions.

Wheelchairs

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what eligibility criteria are in use for NHS wheelchair and seating services and whether there are plans to change them.

Shona Robison: The wheelchair national eligibility criteria are available on the Rehabilitation Technology Information System (ReTIS) website at http://www.retis.scot.nhs.uk/index.php .

  This is under the heading: National Group Information and Minutes.

  The project team are reviewing the national eligibility criteria in developing an action plan by December 2008, for my approval, for the modernisation and redesign of NHS wheelchairs and seating services.